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An awful lot of childrens books are utterly crap aren't they?

65 replies

WideWebWitch · 23/03/2007 19:13

Honestly, we got 15 books from the libary last week and another 20 this and about 2 of them are ok and the rest are utter drivel.

Anyone agree?

OP posts:
wildwoman · 23/03/2007 19:14

what age group?

tortoiseSHELL · 23/03/2007 19:15

Yes, totally agree. Have you tried 'the mole who knew it was none of his business'? Not nice...

WideWebWitch · 23/03/2007 19:15

Well dd picked a random selection from the pre school section from the library. I have an older ds too though and wasn't often much impressed by those offerings either.

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WideWebWitch · 23/03/2007 19:16

Loads of them seem to be assuming children know a lot about adult motivations and stuff. Just read a shite one about a gang of cats, reckon was supposed to be Romeo and Juliet lite but goodness

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tortoiseSHELL · 23/03/2007 19:16

The old ones are the best imo - the tiger that came to tea etc.

KathyMCMLXXII · 23/03/2007 19:17

Yes there is an amazing amount of drivel out there.
And often they're the ones dd likes . The low point of my crap day yesterday was dd throwing a tantrum because I wouldn't read her Mr F*cking Small for the 300th time.

wildwoman · 23/03/2007 19:18

I often think I could write betterwithout too much effort, but then it appears it is too much effort for me to get off my fat arse and do it! My dd1 is having the most boring book available at bedtime at the moment. NO amount of my dare I say superb story telling skills can liven it up!

WideWebWitch · 23/03/2007 19:19

They are drivel. Dh was lying on the bed next to us as I read to dd just now and I threw the last one I read down in disgust, someone was PAID to write that!
The only one I liked was 'not now Bernard' But mum, a monster's going to eat me. Not now Bernard. anyway, the monster eats him, his parents don't notice. Simple but a good story.

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wildwoman · 23/03/2007 19:20

I like not now bernard although it sends me into a bit of a guilt trip....

Califrau · 23/03/2007 19:23

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Marina · 23/03/2007 19:25

Hand in hand with the rise of really great picture books has been an increase in the badly drawn and written stuff.
Am a bit sad that whoever is stock-picking for your library can't tell the difference. Our local library is a crap-free zone at picture book stage, although it all comes off the rails a bit with Goosebumps later

Marina · 23/03/2007 19:26

The Mr Men books are awful IMO. Great pictures, terrible stories (we got given the entire sodding collection )

hatrick · 23/03/2007 19:28

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wildwoman · 23/03/2007 19:28

DD1(5) loves Roald Dahl, in my opinion you can't get much better than that.

foxinsocks · 23/03/2007 19:28

oh we love Not Now Bernard (drat, should have quoted that on the other thread)

I read that for the first time in the doctor's waiting room and burst out laughing (loudly) because the end was so unexpected (after all the twee children's books that are normally around!).

yes, there's a lot of drivel but it also depends on what floats your boat - I (and the children) quite like all the dark humour ones and get very fed up with all the princess/fairy/cutesy books.

hatrick · 23/03/2007 19:28

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wildwoman · 23/03/2007 19:33

This maybe controversial and I hope to god my Dads not a mumsnetter but I really don'y rate bloomin DR Zeuss

sockmonkey · 23/03/2007 19:43

We LOVE the mole. DS1 has memorised Dr Suess's ABC. Maybe we have low standards.
I grew up reading Dr Suess & Roald Dahl though, and have a squiffy sense of humour.
I might try & find not now bernard. Sounds good to me

twentypence · 23/03/2007 19:45

A lot of adult books are crap as well.

KathyMCMLXXII · 23/03/2007 19:45

Ah now I adore Dr Seuss, as does dd (she calls him Dr Shoes).
Not Now Bernard is a classic of the stature of The Tiger Who Came to Tea.

My bete noire(sp?) is some Winnie the Pooh board books we were given which have no rhythm and are so abbreviated they don't really make sense. I also think whoever wrote 'Guess How Much I Love You' should be strangled, but then I'm cynical.

hana · 23/03/2007 19:45

agree, there are some awful books out there, probably all written with grants.

)but I looooveee Dr Seuss, just read Are you my mother to the girls...gotta love the snort!!)

wildwoman · 23/03/2007 19:46

Oops is it Suess? I think I liked it as a child but hate reading it now as I get tongue tied and seem to spit everywhere

Callisto · 23/03/2007 19:47

The older books are definitely better. DD loves Where The Wild Things Are and The Elephant And The Bad Baby. We All Went On Safari is good too. I love Dr Suess and Roald Dahl too.

wildwoman · 23/03/2007 19:48

I liked Guess how much I love you when dd1 was little but she soon grew out of it and it

KathyMCMLXXII · 23/03/2007 19:48

Fox In Socks is a bit of a challenge - see how far you can get without making a mistake.

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